The Friar Podcasts - preaching prayer and spiritual reflections

It is one thing to simply mimic the work of someone else, but another thing altogether when the contribution you make to the body of work is original. The Originality of the work of De La Salle lies in his application of spirituality specifically to the work of teachers.

The work of Saint John Baptist de la Salle is one such contribution. While still a product of his day, his application of the spirituality of the French School to the work of teachers was a great contribution. And, his emphasis not on the horrible nature of humanity but rather on the invitation to a powerful relationship is quite helpful.

Every year I have an eye exam, so that they can make sure that my eyes are fine, and given my family history, so that the can make sure I do not have glaucoma. Part of the exam is my looking into a device and to answer a series of the same questions. Which one looks more clear, #1 or #2. Being able to see clearly is an important thing. In fact, we might even take it for granted until we can't see as clearly as we used to be able to see. Today's gospel shows us how easy it is for us to miss seeing what really matters to God.

It's been said wisdom books are the "wisdom of man", because often there are truths expressed that come from common observation. Today's first reading comes from this group of wisdom books. Get ready to learn. #thefriar #Catholic #homily #Proverbs #wisdom

Following Jesus and living the Gospel are hard. We can easily forget that believing in Jesus and seeking to follow him have natural consequences. Conduct business. Be political. But make following Jesus and being active in the Church most important. https://thefriar.org/2022/09/20/its-hard-to-live-the-gospel-follow-jesus/ 

There is something quite special about the love of a mother. No one celebrates with us more, and no one cries with us more. The love of a mother is indescribable. Today we celebrate Our Lady of Sorrows. The Sisters of Providence have long had a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. "The devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows is one of the defining traditions of the Sisters of Providence, born of the grief experienced by Emilie Gamelin upon the death of her husband and three young sons." Today the Blessed Virgin Mary provides us a way to join our sorrows to hers, and to the suffering of her son, Jesus. We seek her intercession as we find our way through the hardships of our life. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

We might glibly say that we are the body of Christ, that we value other people. We say we value all other people. But do we? Are there times we throw away other people? Today's reading reminds us that we are the body  of Christ, and each one of us is a member. Genesis reminds us that all human beings are made in the image of God. So we cannot throw anyone away. All are important.

If you are preparing for a celebration, a party, or a gathering, you can find yourself stressed by worrying about the invitations. How many do you send? To whom do you send them? What about those who do not get an invitation? God sends us always an invitation to something great. Namely, God sends us the invitation to a relationship with him that can bring us to eternal life. How is God inviting you today?

How often in life is it the case that we think we need that one more thing. A new house. A new job. A new gadget. A new relationship. We think we need the next new thing that will really fill us, satisfy us. But when we try to fill ourselves with anything that is not God, then things do not work out for us the way we might hope. The prodigal son thought simply he life in his own would be better than the life he knew. If I just had the inheritance my father will give me . . .

It is said that nature abhors a vacuum, and that was certainly the case in France in the sixteenth century. A long civil war led to a chaotic society. The emptiness of the age led both the king and the Church to seek to fill this emptiness with money and power.

Moreover, there was a need for both the state and the Church to protect themselves from this chaos, which they did in the form of mutually beneficial agreements. Church positions during this time were controlled by the king, whereas the Church enjoyed certain benefits as well.

It is no secret that life can be pretty hard. There are numerous ways in which things can go astray for us and we can suffer. A loved one could become ill. We might lose our job. We might face a broken relationship that cannot seem to be healed. There is all kind of trouble all over the world. Wars. Poverty. Lack of freedom. When I think about these times in my life where things are overwhelming, I can feel overwhelmed. But at my best I remember the most important thing. God has a plan for me, and he does for you.